Tub.



Patented Feb. I9, |901. M. A. STEPHEN.

. TUB.

(Appllcatxon led Se t 5 1899 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Nudel.)

Patented Feb. I9, |9101.

TUB.

ation led Sept. 5, 1899.)

2 Sheets-$heat 2.

M STEPHEN.

(Applic (H0 Iodel.)

/mfor 2 I q Miki-255e; g Y of@ Q@ Ntra FFlC.

TUB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,322, dated February 19, 1901.

Application filed September 5, 1899. Serial No. 729.548. (No model.)

To 1f/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARY A. STEPHEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galesburg, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tubs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in tubs, and more particularly to convertible bath and washing tubs.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a tub which can be used for bathing purposes and readily and easily adapted for use as a washing-tub with two or more compartments therein, depending upon the size of the tub.

Anotherobject of theinvention is to provide a tub with partitions which can be quickly and easily arranged in place to adapt the tub for Washing clothes or removed so that the tub can be used for bathing purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide for securing the partitions in place in the tub with watertight joints, so that one or more of the compartments may be used without leaking into the adjacent compartment.

My invention also has other objects in View which aim to produce an inexpensive, simple, and convenient tub of this character, all of which will be fully pointed out hereinafter and described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view showing one embodiment of my improved tub having two partitions arranged therein to divide the tub into three compartments. Fig. 2 is a longi tudinal sectional View. Fig. 3 is a detail enlarged sectional View to show more clearly the Water-tight joint formed by flanges between the partition and the tub. Fig. 4. is a perspective view showing another embodiment of my invention. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View of the tub as shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged View showing the manner in which the partition fits in the groove.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures, A designates the body of the tub, which is preferably made of i metal or other suitable material and of such a size and shape as will suit the individual tastes of the users. l prefer to make the tub of longitudinal form, as shown in the drawings, with inclined sides and ends B and a fiat bottom C, substantially of the same general form as the ordinary bath-tub in general use at the present time. When the tub is made of metal, the upper edges thereof are preferably turned over, as shown at D, to provide smooth surrounding edges for the tub and at the same time present an ornamental and attractive appearance.

This tub may be adapted for division into any desired number of compartments, the number of compartments being, of course, governed by the size of the tub and the objects for which they are intended. In the drawings I have shown the tub divided into three compartments F. by means of two partitions F, which are held rigidly in place between the flanges G on the inner face of the body of the tub. The partitions F consist of plates of metal or other4 suitable material, preferably, however, corresponding to the material of which the tub itself is made and cut so that they will it snugly in the tub and engage the sides and bottom thereof when in place. These partitions are maintained in rigid upright position by means of the flanges G and the rubber packing I-I therein. The flanges are secured at their outer edges g to the bottom and sides of the tub, and they are bent slightly upward and carried forward a sufficient distance and then bent back to form the holding-rib g', the other end of the flange being carried forward again, forming the support h' and having the extreme end bent back again upon the support, as shown in Fig. 3. It will thus be observed that by forming the flange in the manner described the projecting edges, which are brought into operation for holding the rubber packing H in place against the partition, are rounded, and no sharp edges are left which would in time destroy the packing. The holding-rib is rounded off and elevated slightly above the support h', so that between them the rubber packing may be clamped and held in place, whereby the packing will not be disarranged or loosened from its proper position when the partition is removed. I prefer to make the packing of rubber tubing of a suitable size, which may IOO be held in place between the holding-rib and support of the flange and form a water-tight joint with the partition when the latter is secured in place. I am thereby enabled to make a tub which can be used for bath purposes when the partitions are not in place and which can be divided into several compartments by introducing the proper partitions. In the drawings I have shown the tub adapted to be divided into three compartments, which is the form most generally used for washing clothes. If desired, only one of the partitions may be arranged in place to provide one small compartment and one large compartment.

On the bottom of the tub I provide a trough I, provided with a discharge-spout J of any suitable kind, which is normally closed by a plugj. This trough constitutes a drain from all the compartments of the tub, each -compartment being provided with an opening K, emptying into the trough, so that all of the compartments may be emptied simultaneously, or any one of the compartments may be emptied independently of the rest. This trough may be formed integral with thebottom of the tub, as shown, or be soldered or otherwise permanently attached thereto, and it communicates with the interior of the compartments by the openings K, thus avoiding expensive fittings and pipe connections.

I have not shown the tub supported in any way but resting directly upon its bottom; but

, it will be understood that suitable legs 01 not be used without departing from my invention,I have thought it unnecessary to illustrate any of the many diiferent varieties which may be employed. The partitions will also form a convenient support for the wringer, which may be fastened thereto in any suitable manner, a slotted wooden rib L being preferably provided and adapted to be removably secured on the partitions for this purpose.

The flanges are arranged parallel with each other and in pairs, being separated a sufficient distance to. receive the partition and allow the packing to be sufficiently compressed to form' a perfectly-tight joint.

I have so far described my invention as embodying partitions fitted between rubber tubing held by flanges on the inner sides and bottom of the tub; but on Sheet 2 of the drawings I have shown another embodiment of my invention in which the flanges are dispensed with and the sides and bottom of the tub are provided with grooves l?, formed by depressions in the tub, in which the partitions F may bev seated, a strip of rubber tubing, felt, or any other suitable packing being used to form a tight joint between the partition and the walls of the groove. This construction obviates any disadvantage which may result from the ilanges when the tub is being used for bathingpurposes, as the grooves P will not form an obstruction ot' any kind and interfere with the use of the tub for this purpose.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the tub provided with a wooden bottom Q, which may be used to make the tub stronger and more substantial, if desired. The wooden bottom may be arranged, as shown in Fig. 5, beneath the ordinary bottom of the tub and above the trough, or the trough may be located in a recess provided for it within the wooden bottom, or the wooden bottom may be arranged within the tub and upon theordinary bottom thereof, in which case it would preferably be removable from the tub and could be provided with the proper grooves to receive the partitions or may be perfectly plain, as desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a tub provided with parallel [langes each comprising a holding-rib and a support, of a partition adapted to be arranged between said iianges, a rubber tubing held by said iianges to bear against the opposite sides of the partition and form a tight joint, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a tub provided with parallel flanges, each of said flanges comprising a holding-rib and a support, of a partition adapted to be arranged between said flanges, a packing held in the iianges between the support and the holding-rib thereof to bear against the sides of the partition, sub stantially as described.

MARY A. STEPHEN.

Witnesses:

JAMES T. WAssoN, L. M. RICHARDS. 

